Micro electrical mechanical system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) having electrical contacts and a MEMS device in electrical communication with the electrical contacts. A lid is oriented over the MEMS device and not the electrical contacts. The lid has a base region and a top region, the base region being wider in dimension than the top region and oriented in closer proximity to the MEMS device than the top region.

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 10/976,452 filed Oct. 29, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,812, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to micro electrical mechanical systems.

BACKGROUND

Some Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) comprise devices that are protected with lids. These lids may protect the MEMS devices from physical damage or interference. They may also, in conjunction with a substrate, provide other mechanical, optical, radiative, or fluidic functions. These lids present various problems, however.

Referring to FIG. 1, a MEMS chip 100 with a lid 102 has a bond ring 104 and electrical contacts 106. The lid covers a protected device 108 of the MEMS. One of the problems with a lidded MEMS is that it is typically larger than a MEMS without a lid. This is partly because the electrical contacts are separated by a distance D₁ from the bond ring (and a corresponding distance from the protected device 108). This distance D₁ is usually needed in order to permit electrical communication with the electrical contacts, in this case with a wire 110 applied with a bonder tip 112.

To partially reduce the size of the lidded MEMS, smaller bonder tips have been used. These smaller bonder tips permit a reduction in this distance but may cause other problems. They are often less reliable, which can result in unusable MEMS when they fail to electrically connect the wire to the electrical contacts. Also, the smaller bonder tips are usually less durable because of their smaller size, and so have to be replaced more often.

Another problem with lidded MEMS is that they can be expensive to test. MEMS, lidded or not, are often formed in large groups on a single substrate 114. MEMS without lids are typically tested with a probe card using an e-testing or parametric testing machine. MEMS with lids are not typically tested with a probe card, however, because the lids interfere with the probe card. For this reason, most lidded MEMS are first separated into individual, stand-alone devices. Each is then tested. Testing each lidded MEMS individually, however, is typically more expensive than testing a group of non-lidded MEMS with a probe card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of prior-art lidded MEMS, and is discussed in the “Background” section above.

FIG. 2 includes a cross-sectional view of conjoined MEMS having an exemplary lid precursor.

FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2 at a processing step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of three exemplary conjoined MEMS having exemplary lids.

FIG. 5 shows a tab bonder and a cross-sectional view of a prior-art lidded MEMS.

FIG. 6 shows a tab bonder and a cross-sectional view of a MEMS having an exemplary lid.

FIG. 7 includes electrical testing probes and a cross-sectional view of three exemplary conjoined MEMS having exemplary lids.

The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and figures to reference like components and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

This document discloses lids and methods for forming and using them. One of these lids enables the MEMS it protects to be made smaller. Another of these lids allows an electrical contact of a MEMS to be positioned more closely to the lid or its bond ring. Still another lid is disclosed that enables a group of lidded MEMS to be tested while conjoined, such as when they are on a single substrate.

Processes for forming and using these lids are also disclosed. One of these processes forms lids from a lid precursor residing over an assembly of MEMS. Another of these processes forms a lid and then bonds it to a MEMS.

Forming Lids from a Precursor Residing Over the MEMS

Referring initially to FIG. 2, a lid precursor 202 is formed over multiple MEMS chips 204. The precursor comprises materials suitable for protecting the MEMS, such as glass, silicon, plastic, ceramic, and the like. The precursor can be formed with thin regions 206, shown in the illustrated embodiment. These thin regions reside over the electrical contacts 106 and can aid in processing the precursor into a lid. These MEMS chips comprise, in one embodiment, dimensions of about one to about 25 millimeters.

The precursor 202 can be formed over many MEMS chips 204 or just one. In the illustrated embodiment, the precursor is formed over three MEMS that are conjoined on a single substrate 208.

Referring to FIG. 3, one or more lids 302 are formed from the precursor. The lids 302 can be formed contemporaneously or one-at-a-time using a saw, photolithography and etching, laser, or other suitable technique. In embodiments where each lid is formed one at a time from one precursor, the precursor can comprise the prior-art lid 102 of FIG. 1, from which lid material can be removed to create the lid. This prior-art lid 102, when acting as a precursor, has a base region 103 a and a top region 103 b, the base region not being wider in dimension than the top region.

The lids 302 can be formed to have a set of regions 303. These regions 303 can include a base region 303 a, a body region 303 b, and a top region 303 c, the body region 303 b extending from the base region 303 a to the top region 303 c and/or residing between them. The base region is formed wider in dimension than the top region. These regions and this dimensional difference between the base region and the top region has an associated profile. The profile can be formed to have, for instance, a stepped, multi-stepped, curved (concave or convex), inwardly tapered (away from the MEMS), or obtusely angled cross section.

In one embodiment, the profile is formed accommodating dimensions, which may be pre-determined, of a particular contacting device intended to be contacted with the electrical contacts 106. If the bonder tip 112, for example, has a particular size and curvature that may not permit it to be placed as near as desired to the protected device 108 or the bond ring 104, this size and curvature can be determined and the lid's profile may be formed to accommodate this size and curvature. By so doing, the lid may be formed to permit the bonder tip 112 (and thus the electrical contacts 106) to be placed more closely to the bond ring 104 or the protected device 108.

In the illustrated embodiment, the profile of the lids is multi-stepped and formed with a saw. The blade of the saw can be lowered to a shallow depth, cutting the precursor to form a shallow step 304 of the lid. Following this, the blade can be lowered to a deeper depth, cutting the precursor to form a deep step 306 of the lid. If the precursor comprises the narrow region 206, as shown in this illustrated embodiment, the sawing process can be complete, as the deeper cut separates the precursor into individual lids separated by a gap 308. If the precursor does not have the narrow region or something similar, the saw blade can be lowered again, cutting the precursor to separate the precursor into individual lids 302 also having the gap.

Forming Lids Prior to Bonding Over MEMS

Referring to FIG. 4 the lids 302 are formed by molding, cutting, a laser, photolithography and etching, or another suitable technique. The lids illustrated in FIG. 4 may comprise injection molded plastic with an inwardly tapered cross section and the base region 303 a, the body region 303 b, and the top region 303 c. Other profiles, such as those specifically formed to accommodate pre-determined dimensions of a probe or bonder tip, may also be used.

The lids are bonded, singularly or in multiples, over the MEMS chips 204, in this case using the bond rings 104. Each lid can be bonded over a singular, separate MEMS or over a MEMS that is part of a conjoined group (as illustrated). In embodiments with multiple MEMS, multiple lids can be bonded over multiple MEMS at once. The width of the lid at the base region 303 a and/or outer dimensions of the bond ring can be equal to or somewhat smaller than the MEMS chip. The illustrated lid is designed to hermetically seal the MEMS's protected device 108 to isolate it from reactive gases.

Bonding to the Electrical Contacts

Referring again to FIG. 4, a conductive structure, such as the wire 110, is placed in electrical communication with the electrical contacts 106 of the MEMS chip 204. The lid 302 enables the MEMS chip to be formed smaller and/or with a smaller distance between the electrical contacts 106 and the lid 302 or the bond ring 104. The MEMS chip 100 of FIG. 1 has the original distance D₁. In contrast, an exemplary reduced distance D₂ enabled by the lid 302 is shown in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the profile of the lid enables a reduction in the distance D₁ to the reduced distance D₂ while permitting the same mechanical contacting device to contact the electrical contacts 106, here the wire bonder tip 112. By so doing, or simply by allowing the mechanical contact device closer to the lid than it could be oriented to the prior-art lid 102, the lid 302 enables the MEMS to be made smaller. How much smaller D₂ is than D₁ may be dependent in part on the dimensions of the contacting device, (e.g., the bonder tip 112). Based on pre-determined dimensions of the contacting device, the profile of the lid may be adjusted to accommodate the contacting device based on these dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 4, for a small MEMS chip 204 and the wire bonder tip 112, the distance is reduced by more than about one half. This reduction can enable the MEMS to be significantly smaller, especially if the MEMS is small itself. In some cases, for instance, the distances D₁ on sides of the MEMS comprise a majority of a width of the MEMS chip 100. In these cases, reducing each D₁ by one half is effective to reduce the width and/or size of the MEMS by twenty-five or more percent. This reduction in the size of the MEMS permits them to be produced at lower cost and, in some cases, with better electrical characteristics enabled by the reduced distance, such as reduced parasitic impedance and/or capacitance.

Referring to FIG. 5, a tab bonder 502 a is used to bond a tape automated bonding (TAB) lead 504 to the electrical contacts 106. FIG. 5 is illustrated to show the distance D₁ used with the prior-art lid 102 that will be TAB bonded.

Referring to FIG. 6, a tab bonder 502 b is used to bond a TAB lead 504 to the electrical contacts of the MEMS chip 204 having the lid 302. The tab bonders 502 a and 502 b differ in that 502 b is not as wide as 502 a. The lid permits tab bonders to touch the electrical contacts at a distance closer to the lid and/or the bond ring 104. This, in turn, permits the MEMS chip to be smaller. The distance D₂ enabled by the lid is shown in contrast with the larger distance D₁ of FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the profile of the lid 302 permits a mechanical contact device (such as the tab bonder) to occupy a space 602 within which lid material would reside if the lid did not have its base region 303 a being wider in dimension that its top region 303 c. This space may permit the tab bonder or other device to be placed in close proximity to the base region 303 a, the protected device 108, and/or bond ring 104 of the lid.

Testing Conjoined, Lidded MEMS

Referring to FIG. 7, conjoined, lidded MEMS chips 204 are tested. The lids 302 permit these MEMS to be tested as a group or singularly.

In the illustrated embodiment, a conjoined, lidded MEMS chip 204 is tested individually. In this embodiment, the lids 302 enable testing probes 702 to be inserted in gaps 308 to contact the electrical contacts 106. The lid permits larger, more stable, and/or less expensive probes to be used to test a conjoined, lidded MEMS, either individually or jointly. The lid may also enable probes to be inserted in the gap that the prior-art lid 102 does not permit, thereby allowing the MEMS to be tested when still conjoined. The testing probes are part of a probe card 704. The probe card can be used by e-testing or parametric machines. Other testing devices having probes can also be used, such as those designed for testing fluidic, biological, mechanical, transceiving, or sensing functionalities of a MEMS. Probe card 704 can contain multiple testing probes, permitting multiple, conjoined MEMS to be tested at once.

In another embodiment, multiple conjoined MEMS are tested contemporaneously. FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of one MEMS chip being tested, though other MEMS chips perpendicular to plane of the cross section can also be tested, such as with one probe card having multiple sets of testing probes.

In still another embodiment, lidded MEMS chip 204 is tested when not conjoined. In this embodiment (not shown) a testing device can temporarily touch the electrical contacts to test attributes of the lidded MEMS. The lid 302 enables testing probes to be inserted generally perpendicular to the MEMS surface. Inserting them generally perpendicular can be less expensive than inserting them at substantial angles to avoid a prior-art lid, such as the prior-art lid 102.

Although the invention is described in language specific to structural features and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps disclosed represent exemplary forms of implementing the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a substrate having a longitudinal axis parallel to a top surface of the substrate; a Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) having an electrical contact and a MEMS device in electrical communication with the electrical contact, both the electrical contact and the MEMS device contacting the substrate; a lid covering the MEMS device and having a base region and a top region, each of the base region and the top region extending from one end of the lid to an opposite end of the lid, the base region being wider in dimension, from the one end of the lid to the opposite end of the lid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, than the top region, and located in closer proximity to the MEMS device than the top region, the lid having a profile selected from a stepped cross section and a multi-stepped cross section; and a mechanical contact device for contacting a wire with the electrical contact when the mechanical contact device is oriented in a first position; wherein the mechanical contact device and the lid are each shaped such that when the mechanical contact device is in the first position, the mechanical contact device protrudes over the lid and there is a predetermined distance between an edge of the base region and a portion of the mechanical contact device in contact with the electrical contact.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein while the mechanical contact device is oriented in the first position, the mechanical contact device protrudes over the base region of the lid.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein while the mechanical contact device is oriented in the first position, the mechanical contact device also protrudes over the top region of the lid. 